Daphne Clair - Summer Seduction

‘Not at all. I’ve rather enjoyed myself.’

The faint surprise in his voice assured her he was sincere, and a rush of gladness made her bold. ‘After all that exertion the least I can do is offer you a cup of coffee—or a beer. I wouldn’t mind one myself.’

‘Beer—you?’

‘Why not? I’m a big girl.’ She grinned at him.

‘No, you’re not.’ He gave her another of those looks that made her conscious of the few centimetres she lacked. His mouth hardly moved, but his eyes smiled at her. She saw the dark centres enlarge, and realised how close she was standing to him. Close enough to see the fine lines by his eyes, and the way his nostrils widened almost imperceptibly as he took a breath.

Then he stepped back and the humour disappeared from his eyes, leaving them bleak again. ‘Thanks,’ he said, ‘but you must have work to do. Maybe another time.’

She didn’t press him, but turned and picked up one of the plastic pots. ‘Here,’ she said quickly, holding it out to him. ‘It’s called Music Box. All you need to do is give it water when the soil starts drying out, and cut off the spent flowers.’

He took the plant, holding it in both hands. If he couldn’t be bothered watering it, she told herself, it was no great tragedy.

‘If you want anything from Auckland,’ she offered, ‘the van will be empty on the return trip.’

‘There’s nothing, thanks.’

‘I could collect your mail with mine if the store’s open when I get back. Unless you plan to go yourself.’

He paused. ‘If there’s mail you could pick it up.’

‘Okay.’ She smiled at him, relieved that he hadn’t snubbed her again.

He nodded, hefted the pot-plant in his hand and said, ‘Thank you. I’ll take care of it.’

Next morning Blythe saw no sign of Jas as she passed his house. But at the end of the day, when the sun was already touching the seaward hills, she drew up outside and jumped out, a bundle of large envelopes in her hands.

Jas was seated at the desk in the front room, but as she approached he got up to open the door.

She held out the envelopes. ‘Your mail.’

‘Thanks.’ He took them, paused and asked, ‘How did the sales trip go?’

Her relief and excitement bubbled over. ‘The potted sunflowers sold well. I’ve got orders for more, and a lot of interest in cut blooms when they’re ready.’

‘You made a wise decision, moving into sun-flowers.’

‘I hope so. Now I know I can sell them, I should buy more seed, later varieties. There’s one called Autumn Beauty that sounds promising. On the other hand,’ she added thoughtfully, ‘I guess I shouldn’t get too hung up on one crop. I’ve been striking some lavender cuttings…maybe I could market them directly to retail shops, like the sunflowers.’

She looked at him eagerly, then flushed. He seemed very aloof today, his expression a politely interested mask. She stepped back. ‘Sorry, you’re busy…’

As she made to turn away, he said, ‘No, wait.’

Blythe reluctantly faced him again. ‘I was thinking,’ he went on slowly, almost as if he’d thought better of it already, ‘a walk would be a good idea before it gets dark. I suppose you’re too tired to join me?’

Surprised, Blythe gave him a wide smile. ‘I’m not tired. I’ll put the van away and meet you.’

She parked the van in the garage and waited on the track until Jas came along. There was no wind, and he wore a white T-shirt with jeans and sneakers.

She’d worn jeans today too instead of her usual shorts, with an ochre and rusty-red shirt that she’d thought smart enough for a business trip.

The sound of an engine made them turn. Jas’s hand closed about her arm and drew her aside.

A utility truck was lurching along to the beach. Blythe waved and the vehicle drew to a halt, the engine still throbbing as the middle-aged driver rested a brawny brown forearm on the window opening and grinned at her. ‘Kia-ora, Blythe,’ he greeted her.

Beside him a boy in his mid-teens leaned forward. ‘Hi, Blythe.’

She stepped forward. ‘How are you, Tau—and Shawn?’

‘Good, good.’ The man looked behind her to where Jas still stood at the roadside. ‘You’ll be the new fella in the Delaney place?’

Blythe introduced them, and Jas came to her side to shake the big, callused hand that Tau offered. ‘Tau runs a garage at Apiata,’ she explained.

‘Fishing’s good here,’ Tau said. ‘You tried it?’

‘I’m not a fisherman, I’m afraid.’

‘Come along and have a go,’ the man suggested.

‘How about you, Blythe?’ Shawn asked eagerly.

She glanced at Jas. ‘We’re just going for a walk.’

The boy looked disappointed, and she added, ‘We might come and watch for a while.’

‘We’ll give you some fish,’ he promised. ‘Eh, Dad?’

‘Sure, if we catch any.’ Tau had his foot on the accelerator. Winking at Blythe, he murmured, ‘Kid’s got a crush on you. See you, then,’ he added more loudly, including Jas in his glance, and released the handbrake.

As the vehicle continued along the track, Jas said, ‘Don’t let me stop you joining your friends.’

‘Not if you don’t want to.’

‘I thought we might climb to the headland. But maybe another time…’

‘Fine,’ she said. ‘It’s a great view, from there.’

There was a path of sorts between the scrub and scraggly seaside trees, slippery in parts and uneven. Blythe led the way, sure-footed and unflagging on the steep, uneven slope. At the top the vegetation was wind-sheared, and a track led to the very tip of the headland above a thrust of wave-burnished rocks.

The sun shimmered over the trembling water. In the distance Apiata sat washed in soft yellow light.

The two fishermen had reached the rock outcrop at the foot of the headland and were preparing their lines. Shawn looked up and waved. Blythe waved back.

‘You’d know everyone around here?’ Jas guessed.

‘Just about.’ Blythe sat on the wiry dry grass at their feet, drawing up her legs and hugging them. ‘My brothers and sister and I spent lots of holidays here with my grandparents. Everyone was great to Gran and me after my grandfather died—and since she went the locals have all looked out for me.’

Jas sat with a forearm draped across a raised knee. Below, the fishermen threw out their lines and within ten minutes Tau reeled in a struggling silver fish.

‘That didn’t take long,’ Jas murmured.

They watched Tau and his son bring in more fish, and admired the changing play of the gradually fading sunlight on the ocean, until the dazzling disc had settled on the horizon. Then Blythe stirred. ‘We’d better go down before it gets dark.’

Jas offered her his hand, and although she didn’t need help she took it, oddly disappointed when he dropped hers immediately afterwards. She wondered if her eyes, like his, reflected the fire of the setting sun.

‘Let’s go this way,’ she suggested.

‘Down the cliff face?’

‘It’s quite safe if you know what you’re doing.’

She showed him the almost invisible steps in the cliff, and the handholds she’d known since childhood. Near the foot of the climb she grasped at the branch of an old pohutukawa, and the wood gave way. She heard Jas give a sharp exclamation, felt herself slide, and came to an ignominious landing on her behind in a rock pool.

Jas was beside her before she’d struggled to her feet, his hands lifting her. ‘Are you all right?’

Blythe laughed, despite the sure knowledge that she’d have a thumping bruise by tomorrow. ‘I’m okay. Lucky I was nearly down, anyway. Thanks for picking me up.’ She pushed a loosened curl from her eyes.